Can car insurer double the excess if you don't use their preferred repairer?

El_Selb

I scraped my passenger door yesterday and the terms of our SEAT PCP contract says we must get the repair work done via them. 
Our insurer LV say the excess is doubled if we don't use LV's preferred repairer, however SEAT are advising us that this doubling the excess isn't fair treatment and we could/should threaten to take the matter up with the FOSm, which would likely lead to SEAT just charging the usual excess. Since doibling the excess for not using their preferred repairer is writtem into the LV contract, them dropping the additional charge seems unlikely to me but just wanted to know if anyone has experience of a similar scenario? 

DUTR

Why don't you think the SEAT PCP T&Cs are equally unfair? I guess you could always take them to the fair trade organisation?

KimJongUn88

If it's contained in the contract of insurance, then they can do it.

The FOS aren't going to do anything because the terms relating to the excess are contained in the contract/terms and conditions that you willingly entered into.

littleboo

It’s something you need to consider when choosing an insurer. I no longer use LV since they introduced this.

AdrianC

El_Selb said:

I scraped my passenger door yesterday and the terms of our SEAT PCP contract says we must get the repair work done via them. 
Our insurer LV say the excess is doubled if we don't use LV's preferred repairer, however SEAT are advising us that this doubling the excess isn't fair treatment and we could/should threaten to take the matter up with the FOSm, which would likely lead to SEAT just charging the usual excess. Since doibling the excess for not using their preferred repairer is writtem into the LV contract, them dropping the additional charge seems unlikely to me but just wanted to know if anyone has experience of a similar scenario? 

You chose to buy insurance that says that, so why wouldn't it be fair...?

And, yes, it's perfectly legit for Seat to hold out, too - after all, they own the car.

Possibly not the best choice of insurer for a PCP car, eh? Still, I'm sure they were a quid or two cheaper than a more suitable policy.

Supersonos

AdrianC said:

El_Selb said:

I scraped my passenger door yesterday and the terms of our SEAT PCP contract says we must get the repair work done via them. 
Our insurer LV say the excess is doubled if we don't use LV's preferred repairer, however SEAT are advising us that this doubling the excess isn't fair treatment and we could/should threaten to take the matter up with the FOSm, which would likely lead to SEAT just charging the usual excess. Since doibling the excess for not using their preferred repairer is writtem into the LV contract, them dropping the additional charge seems unlikely to me but just wanted to know if anyone has experience of a similar scenario? 

Possibly not the best choice of insurer for a PCP car, eh? Still, I'm sure they were a quid or two cheaper than a more suitable policy.

Social distancing must be easy when the horse is as high as yours.

AdrianC

Supersonos said:

AdrianC said:
Possibly not the best choice of insurer for a PCP car, eh? Still, I'm sure they were a quid or two cheaper than a more suitable policy.

Social distancing must be easy when the horse is as high as yours.

It's a lot cheaper to buy the right thing than just the cheapest thing...

facade

Most of the cheaper insurers are in bed with one of the repair chains, and charge an additional excess to get it repaired where you think it stands a chance of being done properly, rather than cheaply.